Choosing a Good Carpenter
We don’t hire carpenters very often, so choosing a good one can be rather tricky. With this guide, the task should be a lot easier.
Searching for Prospects
You can start by asking family members, friends, colleagues or neighbors for recommendations. People are typically glad to share their experiences with a particular carpenter. Look into carpenter reviews online and check out pictures of their past work. Have they done anything like your project? Are there any fields they specialize in, such as wooden floors, gates or doors? What qualifications do they possess and how extensive is their professional experience? Established carpenters are the safest, but don’t automatically shun new carpenters just because they’re new. After all, they have a lot to prove.
Most good carpenters are registered with trade associations, but that doesn’t always indicate their level of expertise. Still, it provides assurance that they mean business. But don’t choose a carpenter by virtue of his membership or memberships alone. Experience should be a big factor in your decision.
Getting Estimates
The type of job you want will determine whether a phone estimate is acceptable. Most carpenters will want to come to see you and your property so you can have thorough discussion of the project. Then they will give you options.
No matter the size of the job you have, start with a minimum of three quotes from three different tradesmen. This gives you the chance to make comparisons, but make sure you gave them the exact same specs. Otherwise, the comparison is useless.
Of course, you should only be considering insured prospects. It’s risky for you to work with an uninsured tradesmen. You don’t want to be liable if anyone gets hurt on your project. If your budget is tight, make sure you understand how your carpenter is going to cut corners and work around your limitations. For example, do you know the difference between real wood and laminate flooring? You should know all of these details.
Hiring the Carpenter
Iron out all the details before you let the work begin. As a minimum, you must be happy with the cost, the estimated completion time and the schedule of payments. The carpenter should also be able to present proof of insurance, and if they hesitate, find another prospect.
Finally, prepare aroudn 50% of the project’s total cost as deposit. The balance shouldn’t be paid until you are fully satisfied with the work or until you resolve disputes, if any.